In this age of digital software and information it is becoming common practice for kids to be introduced to technology quite early in life. Usually the first introduction is through something small that they can hold in their hands. I am of course talking about a mobile phone.
Parents will give it to them while they are in the back of the car or in a restaurant waiting for their food to come. On these smartphones you will find a myriad of apps designed for their enjoyment as well as their kids. This review will highlight some of the best apps for kids by age and category to help sift through the millions (yes millions) of apps available to download.

Aged 2-4

These don’t necessarily have to be that complex but they do need to be engaging.

Games

Where’s My Water

This is a fantastic little puzzle game where you have to figure out how to get the water to the alligator in the sewers through a system of pipes. You get bonuses by angling the water towards the ducks when creating a path through the obstacles. The physics of the water are very life like so it is a lot of fun for both kids and adults alike. This was coincidentally the 25 billionth app to have been downloaded ever.

Basically it’s peek-a-boo at the zoo. Take a tour through a zoo with your child on your phone. It will introduce them to animals, the sounds they make and how to say their names all with simple taps of the screen. There is a free version as well as a paid version, which has more animals and features on it, including getting your child to tell the difference between animals by making them characters.

Available on: Apple

Entertainment

Kids Doodle

Reviewed by Mobilesplease before, this is a great little app made for kids (and adults) to draw and watch what they have created in a movie. There is a free version and a pro version available, with the pro version having more features unlocked, as you would expect.

Available on: Apple and Android

Aged 5-8

At this point, apps for kids should be getting a bit more complex so that they feel challenged.

Games

Fruit Ninja

This is the original flying fruit chopping game that has everyone going crazy with their thumbs. This is sure to entertain kids and adults alike as they try to slice and dice the fruit into the smallest bits possible. Great graphics with the only gore coming from the pulp of the fruit splattering the screen in a genocidal fashion. All in all a complex and addictive game, perfect for kids of ages 5+ with different modes such as Zen to keep the entertainment going for hours.

Available on: Apple and Android

Education

Math Bingo

This is a great game for those just starting out in school and just learning how to add, subtract, multiply and divide. It takes them out of the classroom situation of learning from a teacher and books. It makes learning maths into a game and fun for kids.

Available on: Apple

Entertainment

Pocket Frogs

This is a simple game about catching and breeding frogs. This will probably appeal more to boys than girls but it is extremely fun to have a go at and can be played for long periods without having to spend extra money to spice up the game.

Available on: Apple and Android

Aged 9-12

Kids will want even more complex apps to use and play on. They will also want them to be a bit more mature than they have been up to this point

Games

Angry Birds

This game needs no introduction but to those not in the know it is a widely popular game of sling shooting birds at the pigs who are holed up in various structures in your path. The aim of the game is to destroy all the pigs on each level with the few birds you have available.

Available on: Apple and Android

Education

How to Draw

Learn how to draw a variety of things from cartoons to faces with some free tutorials that this app provides. It brings together freely available advice onto your phone so it is ready for you to learn to draw from.

Available on: Apple and Android

Entertainment

Pocket God

What could be more entertaining to a pre-teen than the act of playing God? This is pretty cool episodic game where you are the God of a remote island of primitives. For those adults who have good gaming knowledge this is a bit like Black & White or Populous but less violent and kid friendly. There are a multitude of powers, levels and achievements for kids to explore. Extremely entertaining and perfect for kids.

Available on: Apple and Android

So there you have some of the best apps for kids tried and tested by Mobilesplease.